Enable AirPlay in Samsung TV settings, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network, then choose the TV from your Apple device.
A blank device list usually points to the TV setting or network, not the iPhone. For anyone figuring out how to enable AirPlay on a Samsung TV, the useful part is knowing where Samsung hides the switch and what to check when that menu is missing.
On a compatible Samsung TV, AirPlay appears as a system setting rather than an app you launch. Once AirPlay is turned On, an iPhone, iPad, or Mac can stream supported media or mirror its screen without an HDMI cable.
What Does AirPlay Need Before You Connect?
AirPlay needs a compatible Samsung TV and both devices on the same local Wi-Fi network. A mobile hotspot is a poor substitute because Samsung says most hotspots block the device-to-device communication AirPlay needs.
- Turn on the Samsung TV and connect it to your home Wi-Fi.
- Connect the iPhone, iPad, or Mac to that same Wi-Fi network.
- Keep both devices awake while making the first connection.
- Have the Samsung remote nearby because the TV may show a pairing code.
Samsung’s current US support material lists AirPlay 2 on select Samsung TV models beginning with the 2018 model year. Menu placement can differ across supported models, which is why two settings paths appear below.
Samsung TV AirPlay Settings: Menu Path That Applies
Current Samsung menus place the AirPlay switch under Connection, while some older supported models place the same menu under General. Samsung names the menu Apple AirPlay Settings.
- Press Home on the Samsung remote.
- Open Settings, then choose All Settings.
- Select Connection and open Apple AirPlay Settings.
- If your TV does not show Connection, open General and select Apple AirPlay Settings.
- Select AirPlay and set it to On.
The TV is ready when the AirPlay entry shows On. You do not need to leave the settings screen open after that.
Connect An iPhone, iPad, Or Mac After AirPlay Is On
An iPhone or iPad can mirror the entire screen or send supported photos, video, and audio directly to the Samsung TV. Apple’s current iPhone instructions use Control Center and Screen Mirroring for full-screen mirroring.
- Open Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner on current iPhone and iPad models.
- Tap Screen Mirroring.
- Select the Samsung TV from the device list.
- If the TV displays an AirPlay code, enter that code on the iPhone or iPad.
Your Apple device is connected when its screen appears on the TV. To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then choose Stop Mirroring.
For a photo or video, an app can send the item without mirroring the whole screen. In Photos, open the item, tap Share, choose AirPlay, then select the Samsung TV. On a Mac, open Control Center, choose Screen Mirroring, and select the TV.
AirPlay Setup At A Glance
AirPlay setup on a Samsung TV has seven points that matter from power-on to playback. Use the table as a check against the TV and Apple device before changing deeper network settings.
| Setup Point | What To Do | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| TV network | Connect the Samsung TV to home Wi-Fi | TV has internet and local-network access |
| Apple device network | Join the same Wi-Fi network as the TV | Both devices can discover each other |
| Samsung menu | Open Apple AirPlay Settings | AirPlay controls become visible |
| AirPlay switch | Set AirPlay to On | TV starts accepting AirPlay discovery |
| iPhone or iPad | Open Screen Mirroring | Samsung TV appears in the device list |
| First pairing | Enter the code shown on the TV | The Apple device is paired with the TV |
| Playback | Mirror the screen or choose AirPlay inside a supported app | Video, photos, or audio play on the TV |
Samsung’s AirPlay 2 instructions confirm the same-network requirement and the Apple AirPlay Settings menu used to turn the feature on.
What If Apple AirPlay Settings Is Missing?
A missing Apple AirPlay Settings entry can mean the TV has not downloaded the AirPlay component from Samsung’s server, or the model does not support the feature. Samsung’s troubleshooting guidance says a Smart Hub reset can restore the missing option on supported TVs.
- Connect the TV to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Samsung account.
- Open Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis.
- Select Reset Smart Hub.
- Enter the TV PIN. Samsung lists
0000as the default PIN if it has never been changed. - Accept the Terms and Conditions when the TV asks, then return to Apple AirPlay Settings.
A Smart Hub reset signs you out of installed streaming apps, so have those account logins available before using it. If the AirPlay menu is present but gray, close any streaming app that is still running and confirm the TV has a working network connection.
AirPlay Controls On The TV
Samsung’s Apple AirPlay Settings menu includes pairing, caption, and version controls in addition to the main switch. These options change how AirPlay behaves without changing the TV’s Wi-Fi connection.
| AirPlay Setting | What It Controls | When It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay | Turns AirPlay receiving on or off | Use it to allow or block new AirPlay sessions |
| Require Code | Controls when a pairing code is required | Useful when several people share the same Wi-Fi |
| Reset Paired Devices | Clears remembered Apple devices | Use it when an old pairing keeps failing |
| Subtitles And Captioning | Controls caption display and appearance | Use it when streamed media includes supported captions |
| About AirPlay | Shows the installed AirPlay version and legal information | Useful when checking the TV’s AirPlay component |
Fix A Samsung TV That Does Not Appear
A Samsung TV that does not appear in Screen Mirroring is usually failing device discovery. Check the network and restart the devices before resetting anything else.
- Confirm the TV and Apple device show the exact same Wi-Fi network name.
- Avoid a phone hotspot; use the home router instead.
- Turn AirPlay off and back On in Apple AirPlay Settings.
- Restart the Samsung TV and the iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Install current software updates on both devices if the connection still fails.
- Try AirPlay from another app to separate an app-specific problem from a TV connection problem.
Some video apps do not allow AirPlay for every title or playback mode. If screen mirroring works but one app refuses to stream, the TV setup is probably fine and the restriction is inside that app.
Run One Full Connection Test
A complete AirPlay connection test proves the TV setting, network discovery, pairing code, and playback are working together. Use one short sequence instead of changing several settings at once.
- On the TV, confirm Apple AirPlay Settings > AirPlay shows On.
- Confirm the TV and Apple device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open Control Center > Screen Mirroring.
- Select the Samsung TV and enter the code shown on the television if asked.
- Open a photo or another simple screen and confirm it appears on the TV.
If that test works, AirPlay is enabled and the Samsung TV is ready for normal streaming or screen mirroring. If the TV still never appears, check model compatibility or use the Smart Hub reset above rather than repeating the same pairing steps.
References & Sources
- Samsung Support – How to stream from an iPhone using AirPlay 2: current US instructions for enabling AirPlay and connecting Apple devices.